EAP Cricket Cup awards announced

Individuals competing in the EAP Cricket Cup tournament in Vanuatu from 23-29 September will not only be representing their country but will also be vying for higher honours as the EAP Cricket Cup tournament awards were announced today at the EAP Office in Melbourne, Australia.

The major prize for all competing teams will be qualification for the EAP Cricket Trophy to be held in Brisbane, Queensland in mid-2006. At the EAP Cricket Trophy 2006, the top two teams from Vanuatu will challenge Fiji for a place in the global World Cricket League Division III event to be held in 2007 as part of the qualifying program for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011.

However, the major individual award up for grabs at the EAP Cricket Cup will be selection into the EAP Squad to attend the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence in Brisbane, from 7-18 November 2005. The Squad, to be announced after the conclusion of the tournament, comprises the top 20 cricketers from East Asia - Pacific with the two week Camp a coaching program to select the 14-man EAP XI team to represent the region in the Australian Country Cricket Championships in Mandurah, Western Australia in January 2006.

Players eligible for any of the region's countries will be considered for selection, including Papua New Guinea and Fiji, the two EAP teams not participating in Vanuatu. Selection will be based on performances during this and past tournaments incorporating consultation with national coaches and tournament umpires.

"The EAP Cricket Cup provides a perfect opportunity for the best players from the region's Affiliate countries to put their names in front of selectors" commented Mr Gleeson. "The players will be able to show their skills under international tournament conditions and with six games being played in seven days the selectors will also be able to ascertain a player's fitness levels and enthusiasm."

Outstanding individual performances will also be honoured by the tournament. The umpires will meet at the end of each game and award votes on a 3, 2, 1 basis for the best players in that game. The votes will be collected and collated each day with the player receiving the most votes over the six games winning the coveted EAP Cricket Cup Player of the Series award.

In addition, team coaches will nominate votes on a 3, 2, 1 basis for the best opposition players during each game. These votes will also be counted over the course of the tournament with the winner from each team being presented with their own Player of the Tournament award at the end of the tournament.

The Player of the Series and the Player of the Tournament awards will be announced and presented at the tournament closing dinner on Thursday 29 September.

1. EAP Squad selection. Top 20 players from EAP region to attend Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence in Brisbane from 7-18 November 2005.

2. Player of the Series. One award voted on by the umpires after each game.

3. Player of the Tournament. Six awards (one for each country) voted on by opposition coaches after each game.